Missing South Florida teen found dead in upstate New York. He was a freshman at Cornell

New York police say they have recovered the body of 18-year-old South Florida native Antonio Tsialas, who was reported missing Thursday evening. No foul play is suspected, police said.

Tsialas had just started his first semester at Cornell University after graduating from Ransom Everglades in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood last year.

“The circumstances of Tsialas’s death are still under investigation,” Cornell University police said in a statement.

Tsialas had not been seen or heard from since leaving a fraternity event on Thursday night, New York State police said.

Tsialas’ mother and father were in Ithaca for Parents’ Weekend at Cornell, according to a statement from Ransom Everglades. The night before he went missing, Tsialas had dinner with his mother — his father was arriving Friday.

Tsialas had been happy at Cornell, his mother, Flariva Tomasello, had reported, Ransom Everglades stated. He had been selected as a campus tour guide and chosen to play on the competitive Cornell Mundial FC club soccer.

Police reported they found his body in Fall Creek by Ithaca Falls Saturday.

At Ransom Everglades, Tsialas had been a varsity soccer goaltender and received an award for his high AP test scores. He also had been a member of Ransom Everglades’ statistics team.

“It was fitting that Antonio was a goalie, as he always seemed to be watching over his teammates,” said Ransom Everglades Head of School Penny Townsend in a statement. “He brought energy, enthusiasm and drive to all he undertook, and he elevated the spirits of those around him. He was truly a special young man, and we are all deeply saddened by the loss of Antonio.”

This story was originally published October 26, 2019 at 10:17 PM.